Configuration responsive descent rate warning system for aircraft

Abstract

Warning systems that monitor the altitude above ground and descent rate of an aircraft and generate a warning if the descent rate of the aircraft is excessive for the altitude in which the aircraft is flying are well suited to aircraft whose flight and operational characteristics are readily predictable but not as suitable for aircraft, such as tactical aircraft whose operating conditions are not so predictable. To overcome this problem, the criteria for providing the warnings are altered (30, 32) as a function of flight configuration (16, 18) to optimize the warnings for different flight conditions.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is: 
     
       1. A warning system for warning the pilot of an aircraft of an unsafe flight condition comprising: means for receiving a signal representative of the descent rate of the aircraft;   means for receiving a signal representative of the radio altitude of the aircraft;   means for receiving a signal representative of the position of the landing gear;   means responsive to the descent rate representative signal and the radio altitude representative signal for generating a first warning signal when the descent rate at the altitude at which the aircraft is flying exceeds a first predetermined value which is determined for the aircraft when its landing gear is down;   means responsive to the descent rate representative signal and the radio altitude representative signal for generating a second warning signal when the descent rate at said altitude exceeds a second predetermined value, said second predetermined value being relatively larger than said first predetermined value and determined for the aircraft when its landing gear is up;   means responsive to the landing gear position representative signal for selecting said first warning generating means or said second warning generating means as a function of the landing gear position;   means for detecting whether the aircraft is in a tactical mode of operation;   means responsive to said descent rate representative signal for generating a third warning signal when the descent rate at the altitude at which the aircraft is flying exceeds a third predetermined value being relatively greater than said second predetermined value and determined for the aircraft when it is in a tactical mode of operation with its landing gear up; and   means responsive to said detecting means and said landing gear representative signal for selecting said third warning generator means when the aircraft is in a tactical mode of operation with its landing gear up.